Alchi

Alchi is a village in the Leh district of Ladakh, India.[2] It is located in the Likir tehsil, on the banks of Indus River 70 km downstream from the capital Leh. Unlike the other gompas in Ladakh, Alchi is situated on lowland, not on a hilltop.[3]

Alchi
Village
The Indus river valley at Alchi
Alchi Location in Ladakh, India Alchi Alchi (India)
Coordinates: 34.2334°N 77.1625°E
Country	India
Union Territory	Ladakh
District	Leh
Tehsil	Likir[1]
Population  (2011)
• Total	932
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
Census code	953

The Alchi Monastery or Alchi Gompa lies about 65 km from Leh on the banks of the Indus river.[4]

History

The village is famous for the existence of one of the oldest monasteries in Ladakh (a national heritage) Alchi Monastery, mainly known for its magnificent and well-preserved 11th- or 12th-century wall paintings, all in an Indo-Himalayan style.[5] Inside the monastery houses thousands of rare and unique sculptures and paintings back to 11th century Western Tibet.

Demographics

According to the 2011 census of India, Alchi has 145 households. The effective literacy rate (i.e. the literacy rate of population excluding children aged 6 and below) is 72.51%.[6]

Demographics (2011 Census)[6]

	Total	Male	Female
Population	932	575	357
Children aged below 6 years	88	46	42
Scheduled caste	0	0	0
Scheduled tribe	712	355	357
Literates	612	422	190
Workers (all)	577	420	157
Main workers (total)	471	400	71
Main workers: Cultivators	118	99	19
Main workers: Agricultural labourers	18	4	14
Main workers: Household industry workers	1	0	1
Main workers: Other	334	297	37
Marginal workers (total)	106	20	86
Marginal workers: Cultivators	64	2	62
Marginal workers: Agricultural labourers	36	12	24
Marginal workers: Household industry workers	0	0	0
Marginal workers: Others	6	6	0
Non-workers	355	155	200

• 
  Image of Tara (Buddhism) in Ladakh
• 
  Alchi village, Ladakh.
• 
  Palace of Sonam-Dorje

Alchi is a small village with several tourist homestays, most offering modern conveniences for overnight stays, The best time to visit is from June to September.

External links

• Alchi monastery
• April 2010 Smithsonian Magazine Article

References

1. https://leh.nic.in/about-district/administrative-setup/village/
2. "Blockwise Village Amenity Directory" (PDF). Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 September 2016. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
3. Schettler, Margaret & Rolf. (1981) Kashmir, Ladakh & Zanskar. Lonely Planet, South Yarra, Vic., Australia, p. 104.
4. "Alchi Monastery". Incredible India.
5. Rizvi (1996), p. 60.
6. "Leh district census". 2011 Census of India. Directorate of Census Operations. Retrieved 23 July 2015.